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Windblown & Construction Dust Information

In dry areas like eastern Washington, dust is a significant air pollution problem in the form of fine particulate matter, or PM10. If you live in eastern Washington, you have probably experienced windblown dust storms, or the effects of construction dust blowing onto nearby properties. From spring through fall, high winds in the Columbia Plateau region can combine with dry weather conditions and unprotected fields to result in dust storms. These dust storms can lead to extremely high levels of particulate matter air pollution.

Under air pollution laws, most windblown dust storms are considered “natural events” which are regulated differently than other sources of air pollution. This site contains materials on natural events policies, the problem of windblown dust and its health effects, and particulate matter in general.

This site also contains information on dust from other sources.

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Windblown Dust Information

September 1, 2002

• Dust-storm information for news media

April 27, 2004

• News Release- Dust-storm information for news media -
• Windblown Dust Brochure - Health Effects of Windblown Dust

February 8, 2007

• Wallula Maintenance Plan

Information about Natural Events - Windblown Dust

• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds
  February 23, 2006, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds
  April 29, 2006, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds
  August 12, 2005, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds
  September, 29, 2005, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds
  March 12, 2005, Burbank, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds
  March 29, 2005, Burbank, WA
• Columbia Plateau Windblown Dust Natural Events Action Plan
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

April 27, 2004, Burbank, Kennewick, Sunnyside, Walla Walla & Wallula Port, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

October 30, 2003, Burbank, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

October 28, 2003, Kennewick & Walla Walla, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

November 11, 2003, Walla Walla & Wallula Port, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

May 02, 2002, Walla Walla, WA
• Documentation of Natural Event Due To High Winds

September 29, 2002, Wallula, WA
• Focus Sheet: Particulate Air Pollution-Air Pollution From Natural Events
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

August 16,2002, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

March 5, 2003, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

November 10, 2003, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

March 18, 2004, Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

March 16, 2005 -- Kennewick, WA
• Documentation of a Natural Event Due to High Winds

June 21, 2005 -- Spokane, WA

General Information on Particulate Matter

• Focus Sheet: Major Air Pollutants - Particulate Matter

Dust From Other Sources

• Focus Sheet: Controlling Air Pollution-Aggregate Industry
• Dust Control Measures
• An Ecology Fact Sheet Techniques for Dust Prevention and Suppression
• An Ecology Focus SheetFocus on Air Quality and Construction Projects
• For further information on Dust Control please contact your Local Clean Air Agency

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